My kids Pediatrician, and many other educators I came across always encouraged me to read to my kids, explain every activity etc. At first I was hesitate, because I asked myself, why is it so important to follow certain pedagogical learning/teaching styles. When we were kids, no one really read to us, or emphasized speech to us, yet we end up talking and reading. Sometimes it pays to be humble and just listen. One day I started thinking deep about this issue, at some point I started talking to myself, ok I remember my nephew from Namibia reading novels at 4 1/2, and at the age of 5 he was on NBC holiday special presenting. Then I said to myself, maybe it's important to help your kids do all these things at an early age, maybe there is a benefit from this.
Personally, I'm not a talkative person, and I'm not really into read books (example novels). I looked at myself, and said maybe if I learned how to read at an earlier age I could have fallen in love with books, and became a better reader, and understood most of the knowledge shared by my teachers in high school. Maybe my Oshiwambo, and English vocabulary could have been on a different level than now. The moment I started questioning all these, I began to understand the importance of educating your children at an early age (as early as one day old).
Like I said earlier I'm not a talkative person, thus talking to my son (explaining everything that I was about to do was not easy). At first, I didn't really say much I just kept on counting in both Oshiwambo and English. Then I discovered the flash cards. The good thing about my son was that the moment we started teaching him alphabets, he loved it. In fact he knew all his ABC's before he could speak properly I think at around 23 months.
Because he was into the academic stuff, we decided to buy him toys that contains ABC or 123 etc. I remember in 06 when he just turned 2 for his Christmas gift, we bought him a train that teaches letter phonics, animal sounds etc, he sat there for about two hours playing with this fascinating toy.
Because I have seen my nephew reading at 4 1/2, I always knew that it's possible for children to read at 4; thus my goal was to teach my son to read before he was 5. I was not going to force him, but just create an environment that encourage him to read.
First I knew my weakness, I don't always pronounce all the English words correctly, in fact, I'm learning with my kids now. I was lucky to find leap frog products. I don't really buy from them because they're too expensive. I buy from Walmart. First we bought letter phonics movies, (the A goes aaaaa, the A goes aaaa every letter makes a sound the A goes aaaa). I didn't just put on the video for him and ask him to watch. I created a fun environment for him. I watched with him and sang with him; I even danced with him.
We bought him as many books as possible, and took him to the library every week. Our library has a great program for the kids. Parents and kids singing activities, summer programs, and much more.
When Berhane was 3 we went to a cellphone store, he said "Hi Marc." We all wondered if he heard someone calling him, but then he said "Mark Michael." Then we realized he was reading on the guys' name tag. Its amazing what kids can do.
Currently he reads basics, we're still working on his reading activities. I'm thinking about getting him "hooked on reading" and hooked on math Leap frog products from Walmart.
Children can do wonders if parents help them. It's not necessary for parent to push their children, but to encourage them to succeed.
Last Sunday, I decided to take lil'B to the Movies, for the first time. I was expecting an extraordinary expressions once he sees the huge screen. Of cause he was excited about the idea of going to the movies, he told his friends, teachers, and even the people who stood behind us while paying for our tickets. But, when we entered inside, he just profesionaly guided us to some seats, and began to watch the previews. We watched Monsters vs Aliens.
